Southern California -- this just in

Santa Clarita gets $21-million economic boost from filming

The city of Santa Clarita continues to rake in millions of dollars each year through TV and movie filming, according to data that shows a recent increase in the economic impact of such projects.

Officials recorded 909 film days and issued 372 permits in fiscal year 2011 to 2012, which represents a 4% increase in film days and an 8% increase in film permits compared with the previous fiscal year, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Film Office.

The overall economic impact of local filming has increased from around $18,777,500 in 2011 to $21,141,500 — a rise of 13%, officials said.

The city had been put “on the map as Hollywood’s film community of choice” Santa Clarita Mayor Frank Ferry said in a statement Monday, adding that the money helps support jobs and local businesses.

Officials tout Santa Clarita as an attractive filming location thanks to its diverse landscapes and plentiful locations, among other attributes.

City leaders approved a three-year extension in March of the Film Incentive Program, which offers incentives to film and television production companies to retain them, officials said. The perks include subsidized permit fees and reduced costs for using city-owned properties.

Since the program’s inception in 2009, the Film Incentive Program has supported locally based productions by refunding more than $185,000 in permit fees, according to figures released by the Film Office.

Productions currently based in Santa Clarita include “NCIS,” “Vegas” and “Switched at Birth.”